MAY 2009 Rads

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited July 2009

    Barbiedahl---You go girl.  That is the right way to think.  Thank you for your comments.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2009

    Barbie - that is very well said!!

    My bs appointment was fine - the discharge is normal, especially for that breast with the inverted nipple - my doc checked everything over twice, and said I'm good to go for 6 months!  He mentioned that my rad onc will set up a mammogram when I see him at the end of the month, and that will probably be done around December, and then he'll schedule the mammograms after that.  I was glad to hear December, that will give the radiation pain time to really go away before everything is put into the vise.

    So, I'm concentrating on not worrying and wondering - at least until I see the med onc for the blood tests / markers in october.  And even then, I'm going to try to not worry.  I have a life to live! Scarred, not scared.  Kiss

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited July 2009

    Hi ladies...

    Barbie...what a wonderful post...thanks...

    Chelev...glad to hear your BS appointment went well...

    BOLD...just two more...yippeee...

    Lisalisa...have a great vacation...

    I will be doing the PET/CT scan after my two-week vacation in August...I am trying to read up on it and while I want to do it for peace of mind, I am also kind of getting worried about it...read somewhere it is like getting 250 xrays? is that correct? will appreciate everyone's input...thanks...

    Take care all...

    EDITED to add...I think I'm being silly for getting worried about a PET/CT scan after all I've been through...thanks for obliging me...Smile

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2009

    Thanks, americanpinay!

    Did you have a PET scan prior to your treatment?  I guess every doctor does it a different way.  I had a PET/CT, MRI and bone scan done prior to the lumpectomy.  The PET scan is simple, it's just like a CT scan, but you have to fast, and they inject you with a sugar serum that you have to then sit quietly with no movement at all for about an hour, and then you lay on the CT table and they do the scan.  The PET works as it is scanning for any other tumors or cancer in your system by where the sugar concentrates - apparently cancer loves sugar.  Bring a walkman or something to listen to while you are waiting, they wouldn't let me even read a book because they don't want your muscles to move and burn energy, mobilizing the sugar to go to them instead of any cancers.

    I thought I'd be getting the full workup once I was finished, but my med onc told me he'd schedule a PET scan if I was starting to have problems, otherwise, we'll just be doing bloodwork and mammograms / ultrasound for now.

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited July 2009

    Chelev, congrats on the good news! My medical oncologist told me the same thing about scans and other diagnostics. Just a blood test now and then for tumor markers, although he said that's unreliable, and maybe an MRI annually. I plan to have a prophylactic mastectomy on the other side, so no more mammogram squeezes for me!

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited July 2009

    Chelev, congrats on the good news! My medical oncologist told me the same thing about scans and other diagnostics. Just a blood test now and then for tumor markers, although he said that's unreliable, and maybe an MRI annually. I plan to have a prophylactic mastectomy on the other side, so no more mammogram squeezes for me!

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited July 2009

    Chelev, congrats on the good news! My medical oncologist told me the same thing about scans and other diagnostics. Just a blood test now and then for tumor markers, although he said that's unreliable, and maybe an MRI annually. I plan to have a prophylactic mastectomy on the other side, so no more mammogram squeezes for me!

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited July 2009

    Barbiedahl - thanks so much for your words of wisdom!  you're SO right!

    I'm off to live my life....starting by SHOPPING for clothes today and then getting my hair colored!  woohoo!  I'll try to post a photo later!  still not long enough for highlights, but i'm going lighter blonde for summer!

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  • carolinachick
    carolinachick Member Posts: 387
    edited July 2009

    My onc said the same thing - no scans unless there were symptoms that needed to be investigated.  I am meeting with a genetic counselor tomorrow morning to see if I should be tested.  I've been sort of emotional today, not knowing if I really want to know if I carry the defective gene.  I would feel so guilty for possibly passing it on to my daughter, but at least she could be aware of it.  Just feeling our of sorts today...

    lisalisa - the shopping sounds like fun.  Maybe I should try that!  I can't wait until my hair is long enough to get properly colored and be seen in public.  Have a great time!

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  • Deb-from-Ohio
    Deb-from-Ohio Member Posts: 1,140
    edited July 2009

    Well I survived yet another treatment and the burns actually look like they're healing good....and tadah, I have 5 more regular treatments and 5 boosts and I'm done...so the countdown begins! I cannot wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited July 2009

    Deb-from-Ohio...soooo glad to hear you're doing better...hang in there...

    Chelev, Texas and Carolinachick...thanks for your responses on scans...I did not have a full body PET/CT scan before treatment...I guess my med onc is in that group of doctors that recommends it after treatment...I had chest x-rays before surgery...brain MRI (major headaches while on Taxol) and bone density test during chemo...

    Lisalisa...shopping and hair color sound sooo much fun...enjoy...my hair is taking its sweet time to grow...

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2009

    I know!!  I cannot WAIT until I can go to the stylist for a real haircut - it will be the first, just like a little kid again.  And, real color!!

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  • ajlive
    ajlive Member Posts: 134
    edited July 2009

    Chelev & Ivorymom:  Glad to hear appointment went well.

    Deb-from-Ohio:  Yea!  Keep up the protein and water.  Your almost there.

    LisaLisa:  Enjoy your vacation.

    I think we all deserve a worry free vacation and not think about BC.

    Margo1:  Send some of that cool weather this way.  Greenish-yellow cast.  I thought it was just me especially under the arm.  Peeling some.  Nipple is very sensitive. 

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited July 2009
    to life everyone!  and to navigating the best course through all that we are dealt.  oxo Cool
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  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2009

    Chelev  I love your post scarred not scared. 

    Deb the count down helps.  I'm so glad you are able to at least tolerate your treatment right now.

    We are an amazing bunch of ladies.  We deserve happiness and worrying doesn't do any good so I'm with you Barbie.  Today was my first day back to work since starting radiation and I truly felt energetic and happy.

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  • lor444
    lor444 Member Posts: 5
    edited July 2009
    You ladies are an inspiration to all that view the posts, I don't have cancer but someone I feel very much for does and starts RAD very soon, I will be passing this site on to her when we talk next that's for sure. I would like to know if it's normal for a patient to push others out of the picture while going through the treatment, I guess what I would like to know is how do you support someone whom says they don't want support but still turns to you for it at times, it's more on the emotional side that's got me baffled, sometimes you don't know if you're saying the right things or not so any advice would be great ladies
    Cheers
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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited July 2009

    lor44: everyone responds to a life crisis differently, and you are a good friend to persist even when she pushes you aside. Keep checking on her, offer to drive her to rads or to run other errands if she's getting tired, and when she does turn to you just do a lot of listening.

    Emotions run strange for women going through this: I've cried hard one day then been on top of the world the next. Some women crave normalcy; others need sympathy; I've been somewhere in between. I wanted normalcy when I felt I could handle it, but I also wanted people to understand what I was going through.

    What I've appreciated each and every time I've seen my friends are the smiles and hugs.

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  • Deb-from-Ohio
    Deb-from-Ohio Member Posts: 1,140
    edited July 2009

    Hey gang....got a quick question. Did any of you get an itchy throat from rads? The past week and a half I have been woken up every nite with an itchy throat causing me to cough my fool head off! It's gettin irritating!

    Hugs!

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  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2009

    Hello my friends My computer crashed. I am now on my DH laptop. Because I can not go a day without my peeps!!

     Deb I have had a little cough on and off but nothing like you discribed. I would talk to your rad onc. I am with you girl. I no that this has been hard on you. I say a prayer every time I get zapped. It is very unsettling to be in radiation.

    I am glad I only have 2 left. I am getting real tired. I can not wait to be on the healing train. I know how you all felt about thinking about the future more now,

    I will still be on herceptin till Dec. I get a little tired from that too. It changes my tastebuds to a sweet salty yuck taste. Maybe that will help me with my diet.

    I want my hair back!!!!!! It is sooo hard to have patients. I am 12 weeks PFC and still have a lot of scalp showing. GRRRRRR.

    Its hot here. I want to go swimming!!!! Maybe next week I will be freeeeeeeeeee!

    I hope everyone lives this day to the fullest!.

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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited July 2009

    Morning Radettes...

    So much has gone on in the last few days....So sorry Kathy about your DX...you are a STRONG woman....and I know you will get through this...the road ahead will be much smoother now that you know where the drive started.

    Looks like everyone is almost finished with Rads...I won't recap the entire list of RADETTE WARRIORS but we have BOLD, DebOhio and Snappygoddess to get through and then it's PARTY TIME for all of us SURVIVORS.....

    GIRLS WE WILL BE HERE TO CHEER YOU TO THE FINISH LINE!!!!!

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  • ajlive
    ajlive Member Posts: 134
    edited July 2009

    ivorymom: your response to lor444 was right on.  I couldn't have said it better.

    deb-from-ohio:  I had a sore throat off and on but figured it was sinuses draining.

    Bold:  One more day!Smile

    It's amazing how your skin quickly gets back to normal.  Keep moisturizing.....

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  • barbiedahl
    barbiedahl Member Posts: 119
    edited July 2009

    Lor444 I think Ivorymom got it right. I don't think I became a hermit or anything during treatment, but I did pull back, I was tired. I really appreciated cards and emails knowing that people were thinking and praying for me. Just keep being a good friend.

    Bold I am chilling the cocktail shaker! What's your celebratory drink of choice??? 

    Chelev I love that scarred but not scared.

    I had a friend tell me today that my hair looked thicker, she couldn't have given me a nicer compliment! I can still see scalp in the right light. I may have to be in dimly lit rooms for awhile.

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  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2009

    Ivory Mom -- your post about emotions was great.  You need to become a counselor:)  I'm so glad that our group is almost done.  I've worked the last two days.  My energy level was good and I was able to come home and take a two mile walk each day.  Since this is my treatment I'm able to think brain cancer and get my little but out the door.

    I saw the eye doctor today for a routine check-up.  I let him do that fancy eye map.  So we looked at the inside of my eye and saw a "normal freckle" that 25% of people have. He said eye tumors were rare and very obvious and usually only happened with breast and some other cancer metastasis.  All I heard was breast metastasis.  My poor SL and her optic nerve metastasis.  I asked if we could do it every year.  He said of course.  Of course I'd really like my freckle looked at weekly.  This disease sure has it's moments when we freak out.  So, I calmed myself down can home and walked just as fast as I could.

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited July 2009

    Lor444...I agree with Ivorymom...for me, the toughest part was right after initial diagnosis and all the uncertainty that goes with it...I found it very hard to discuss BC diagnosis with family and friends at that time but once I knew the treatment plan, it got so much better...while it was very scary in the beginning, reading up on BC also helped me tremendously...

    Deb-from-Ohio...I also had sore AND dry throat a couple of times while on rads and even after rads...I try to drink a lot of water and that seems to help...

    Bold...tomorrow, you graduate!!!...I am almost 16 weeks PFC and my hair is about quarter of an inch long (or should I say short?)...I'm starting to think the wig is hampering growth!!!

    Be well ladies...Cool

    EDITED to add...Deb-on-the-lake...I hate-hate-hate those freak-out moments...may we all have less and less of those...

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  • Deb-from-Ohio
    Deb-from-Ohio Member Posts: 1,140
    edited July 2009

    American, you could be right...they say that people that wear hats alot, the hair follicles can't breathe so they die off..........look at alot of the country western singers from wearing hats..they're all going bald..I'd say that a wig is very close to a hat...

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited July 2009

    Lor444, I agree with ivorymom as well.  With me it was hard to think of how to ask for help as sometimes I just didn't have the reserve to figure out how my friends who kept asking could help.  I have a small child and one of the best things was when folks would bring over frozen homemade spaghetti sauce or bring a homemade lasagna.  Offering to drive your friend to appointments/chemo if she needs that, is nice, was very appreciated too. 

    Deb from Ohio, I had a weird dry cough just after the end of Rads, but - hey- it's also allergy season here and that can cause a dry cough too.  Try a bedtime Benadryl, if it helps, it might be allergy. 

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  • lor444
    lor444 Member Posts: 5
    edited July 2009

    Thanks for the replies ladies, It realy helps me to understand a lot more about how to deal with it from the outside looking in, and thanks Ivorymom for being so personal in your reply. I have tears in my eyes, I am sticking in there because i believe thats what you do when you love someone, go with the highs and the lows and don't give up what ever may arise. Yummy yummy, vegimite toast, night all.

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited July 2009

    I've had weird itching on the back of my shoulder. I'm assuming that's where the radiation left my body, but it can ease up any time!

    Good news on the Femara. The aches are already going away!!!

    I  only wear my wig if I'm going to be among friends. At home, and if I'm out among strangers such as grocery shopping, I just look like I have a very severe short hair cut. It's SO freeing!

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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited July 2009

    It's BOLD's turn...CONGRATS BOLD.....YOU MADE IT!!!!!

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited July 2009

    Hooray BOLD!!!!

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